New room with a new view. . .

Slow, quiet days at the U of late. . . Bob's orders for the past few days have been to rest as much as he can, limit movements to simply getting in and out of bed into a chair. His surgeons wants him to take it easy and let the "re-cision" heal (that's my made-up name for redoing the incision, btw), thus keeping physical activity to a minimum. He has been doing PT and OT in bed, but no walking or anything too strenuous, until today, when he finally got orders to be able to do some short walking exercises. Makes for some very long days, just sitting. At least he's sleeping a lot, hopefully, to make up for some lost zzzzz's. Says it's restful sleep, too, not exhaustive sleep. Big difference, y'know. .

Yesterday morning, I sat in the corner, reading a book, as Bob's PT worked on some exercises and stretches while he sat in the recliner. She was being extra gentle with him, telling him that she likes to tell her patients that sometimes recovery is like getting onto an on-ramp on the highway, slowly work up to the speed limit a little at a time, five miles an hour, then ten, then 15 . . . "Hell with that," Bob says. "Let's gun it." I nearly spit my coffee across the pages of my book. "Well, that's motivation if I've ever heard it," his PT said, laughing. As much as we laughed I could tell Bob wasn't kidding.

Eating is ever-so-slowly improving. Usually eats a pretty good breakfast—pancakes/french toast and/or hash browns, fruit . . . has been skipping lunch because breakfast seems to carry over for quite a while. Dinner has been take out or me bringing something—last night, I brought turkey meatloaf, steamed veggies, mashed sweet potatoes and cranberry chutney from Good Earth restaurant in Roseville (love, love, LOVE that place! Local when possible, organic, non-processed, honest-to-goodness real food. Something for everyone, carnivore to vegan. If you ever find yourself at Rosedale, make the effort to cross Fairview and have lunch or dinner while shopping. Beautiful grub, man). This a.m., I brought in some homemade whole wheat pancakes, kiwifruit and a yogurt . . . tonight was a turkey sandwich with avocado, tomato, Swiss cheese, on uber-grainy sprouted bread, with sliced nectarine on the side. . .

The powers that be have granted Bob's transfer to acute rehab, even with this most recent set-back of the incision re-do, and tomorrow's (Sunday) the magic day. All the deciding parties are in agreement with sending him over, all the other medical criteria have been met (no more IV meds or nutrition, no signs of infection, the ability to withstand 3 hours of therapy—that may be tough initially, but they can modify that schedule for a few days). I can't help but think it'll do a world of good to get Bob out of the hospital—finally!—and into new surroundings, with activities that will push him forward like nothing else has in this past year. I just know it will.

It's been over three weeks that Bob's been in the hospital. September half over, every day of the month thus far, spent looking out the windows of the room with the fabulous view. . . he's ready for a new one.